Independence MO
Missouri · Pop. 121,740
Independence, MO: median household income of $60,339, median rent of $1,109/mo, 5.6% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$60,339
per year
Median Rent
$1,109
per month
Median Home
$173k
home value
Unemployment
5.6%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
15.8%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
24 min
one way
City Reality Check balanced
"Independence, MO Reality Check"
In Independence, the rent-to-income burden runs around 22% — refreshingly manageable by national standards. Median income sits at $60,339 and median rent is $1,109/month. 50% of renters are cost-burdened (30%+ of income on housing). Landlords are winning; everyone else is treading water. Median home value: $172,900 — that's 2.9× the median income. 61% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. Employment picture: 5.63% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 15.8%. Average commute: 24 minutes — acceptable. Independence was founded in 1827 — that's 199 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 0.5 sq miles at 270,533 people/sq mile — one of the densest in the US. Elevation: 1,033 ft — elevated terrain. RoastMyCity overall score: 67/100 — It Depends.